News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
HOUSTON – Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko was named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List, announced Wednesday morning. The award is given each January to a college football coach, recognizing contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
In Elko’s first season at the helm in Aggieland, the 14th-ranked Maroon & White have jumped out to a 5-1 start for the first time since 2020. They are in the midst of their best start to SEC play since 2016, moving to 3-0 after taking down then-No. 9 Missouri, 41-10 in Week 6.
The Aggies boast one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, averaging 232.3 yard per game, while their 5.6 yards per carry as a team rank among the top-15. The offensive line has won the battle in the trenches early this season, clearing the way for the rushing attack and ranking ninth nationally, giving up just 20.0 tackles for loss on the year. On the defensive side, A&M has held its opponents to 100-or-fewer yards on the ground in each of its last four games, while ranking among the top-15 in the country in touchdowns allowed (11) and turnover margin (1.0/g)
Now in its 39th year, the Coach of the Year award winner will be announced live from Houston’s Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family voted on the watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient.